In recognition of Michigan’s rich automotive history, the state Senate approved a resolution Wednesday to commemorate August 2011 as “Automotive Heritage Month,” said sponsor Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake.

Senate Resolution 73 was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate.

“Michigan inventors helped put the world on wheels and established the state as the international headquarters for the auto industry,” Kowall said. “We are home to the ‘Motor City’ and the Woodward Dream Cruise, the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic cars. It only makes sense to honor this rich automotive history by establishing August as Automotive Heritage Month.”

Michigan’s automotive heritage led to the state being labeled the “Arsenal of Democracy” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Despite facing brutal and unrelenting economic times, Kowall said Michigan is still home to 89 automotive facilities and has the highest automotive related employment in the country, with 22 percent of the state’s total workforce either directly or indirectly tied to the industry.

“On behalf of our 320,000 members in the United States, the Historic Vehicle Association applauds Senator Kowall and his leadership in celebrating our rich automotive heritage and the legacy of the Motor City,” said Carmel Roberts, international director of government relations of the Historic Vehicle Association.

The 17th Annual Woodward Dream Cruise, which takes place this year on Saturday, Aug. 20, attracts more than 1 million visitors, and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles to Michigan every year.